If you care about music...
If you care about composing and creativity...
If you care about people having access to music and to participation in music, regardless of background, "ability," "disability," etc....
If you know someone with cerebral palsy, or have it, or know someone who has a condition usually perceived as a severe limitation, or have one yourself...
THEN PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO CLIP. (You can also click on the screen below.)
It's twenty minutes of the most mind-blowing footage of the combined scientific and artistic work of Tod Machover, who also happens to be a friend.
PLEASE DO NOT MISS THE SECOND HALF (minute 11 onwards).
I have cerebral palsy, but in
ReplyDeletethe grand scheme of things, my involvement is very mild...I've always wondered about the question of how do you get beyond the motor involvement and get to the real intellectual capability of people with more severe involvement such as Dan shown in the video clip. I think it's safe to say, that too many of these individuals have been overlooked because of the severity of their involvement and we simply don't know what untapped and under developed capacities these individuals possess. Moreover, it's not just artistic creativity, but ability in math and science and linguistic expression...and the whole nine yards. And I think what's really fascinating is the use of this technology to facilitate this expression. This is what is so totally amazing.
I'm really glad you used this in your blog.
Mike - Thanks for your comments. I totally agree with you that so many human gifts are lost / untapped / locked up / unknown / assumed to be absent because of assumptions based on physical appearances or limitations. I admire what Tod has described here, which takes art therapy or "arts" therapy as well as individual artistic expression to new heights!
ReplyDelete